Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) has climbed to the third position of the General Classification of the Giro d'Italia after a bad day of Thibaut Pinot.

Lopez is now in a podium position of the Giro d'Italia and leads the Youth classification, making it a successful race for the Colombian. "Today has been a super day," he explained to Italian broadcaster RAI. "I and the team came out with the idea of risking everything and doing everything we could do.

"As you could see, the team has been really great and we have done a great job during the entire day. My teammates emptied themselves to set a high rhythm and maybe this caused a lot of damage to the peloton. I would like to thank the team and particularly Luis Leon (Sanchez) who is like a brother to me."

If things work out properly in the last stage of the Giro d'Italia, the Colombian will be stepping on the podium in Rome. "Right now I feel a lot of happiness because I've never been on the podium of a grand tour," Lopez commented.

"The fact that I can be now is thanks to the team and all the work they have been doing day after day. They have sacrificed a lot. This morning I said to Luis Leon: 'if I'm on the podium it is because of you'. All these days he has been next to me like a brother."